CNN reported that on June 22, US Secretary of Defense Hekseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane jointly attended a press conference to introduce details of the US military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

This operation was codenamed "Midnight Hammer Operation" (Operation Midnight Hammer). He introduced that in total, more than 125 aircraft participated in this operation, including B-2 bombers, tankers, reconnaissance aircraft, and fighters. This unprecedented operation involved seven B-2 stealth bombers. Dan Kane stated that these bombers dropped over 12 large bunker-buster bombs weighing 30,000 pounds (13.6 tons) at Iran's two nuclear facilities located in Fordow and Natanz. The US also simultaneously launched dozens of Tomahawk missiles at the Isfahan nuclear facility. During this time, there was also a "deception operation," where multiple bombers flew towards the Pacific to mislead outsiders.

This operation was codenamed "Midnight Hammer Operation" US Department of Defense

According to the timeline of the US military action released by Kane, at midnight Eastern Time on Friday, a group of B-2 bombers took off from Whiteman Air Base in Missouri. The seven B-2 bombers forming the main force crossed the Atlantic eastward, maintaining only minimal communication during their 18-hour flight. Another part of the B-2 bombers flew west across the Pacific as decoys to mislead outsiders.

At around 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, a US submarine launched more than twenty Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Isfahan nuclear facility, striking the infrastructure of this above-ground nuclear facility. Around 6:40 PM, the lead B-2 bomber dropped two GBU-57 massive bunker-buster bombs at the Fordow nuclear facility. The remaining aircraft then dropped their bombs on their respective targets. The entire bombing lasted from 6:40 PM to 7:05 PM. The bombing occurred at around 2:00 AM local time in Iran on Sunday morning.

This is the longest continuous mission executed by the B-2 bomber since the "9/11" attack.

Kane said that high-speed suppression fire (High-speed suppression fire) was used to protect the B-2 bombers. It was suspected that US escort fighters also entered Iranian airspace.

US Secretary of Defense Hekseth (left) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane attend the press conference Reuters

He said that there were no signs showing that Iran's air defense forces had fired a single shot. "Iranian fighter jets did not take off, and Iran's missile systems seemed to have not detected us."

Hekseth: The action has been meticulously planned for several months

At the press conference, US Secretary of Defense Hekseth stated that the US believed that the operational capability of the Fordow nuclear facility had been destroyed, which was the main target of this operation. This operation "seriously disrupted" Iran's nuclear program but did not affect Iran's military or civilians.

Hekseth claimed that everyone involved in this attack performed "perfectly."

He also specifically mentioned the support given by the "ally Israel" and said that these actions have been carefully planned for several months.

He also introduced that during this operation, the B-2 bombers carried out the longest continuous mission since 2001, and it was also the first time that massive bunker-buster bombs were used in combat operations.

He claimed that the US action was "committed to achieving peace" and threatened that any retaliatory action by Iran would be met with "even stronger" counterattacks.

When did Trump decide to "act"?

A media questioned whether there was a specific moment when Trump decided to "act." In response, Hekseth said: "There was no particularly critical moment, but there was a moment when he realized that action must be taken to reduce the level of this threat."

Notably, the White House said on June 19 that Trump would decide within "two weeks" whether the US would intervene in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

US Secretary of Defense Hekseth answers questions BBC

Did the US want to achieve "regime change"?

Hekseth emphasized in his response to journalists that this operation was not aimed at achieving regime change in Iran, but rather to eliminate the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program to US interests, while ensuring the safety of the US military and its ally Israel.

Are you concerned about the reactions of allies in the region? Is there still a possibility of resolving issues through diplomatic channels?

In response to questions about the communication situation between the US and Iran and whether there is still a possibility of resolving issues through diplomatic channels, Hekseth stated that the US had repeatedly invited Iran back to the negotiation table.

He said: "They clearly understand America's position and know what steps they can take to promote peace, and I hope they will do so."

In response to concerns about the reactions of American allies, he replied that the US understands the various challenges faced by its allies in the region and has always maintained a "respectful attitude," closely cooperating with these countries.

Will the US be drawn into another endless war over "weapons of mass destruction" in the Middle East?

American veterans are concerned that the US will be drawn into another endless war over so-called "weapons of mass destruction" in the Middle East.

Hekseth claimed: "(This time) it is certainly not endless." He also said that President Trump had conveyed a strong and clear mission directive to him regarding the destruction of Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Hekseth said that Trump "longs for peace" and "needs to reach solutions through negotiations."

How much damage was caused? How will the US respond to Iran's retaliation?

Hekseth was asked to explain the extent of the damage caused by this operation and outline what measures the US would take if Iran or armed organizations influenced by Iran attacked US interests in the region.

Iran's Fordow nuclear facility BBC

Hekseth introduced that according to preliminary assessment results, the US "all precision-guided weapons accurately hit the predetermined targets and achieved the expected effects."

He once again stated that the US believed it had destroyed the operational capability of the Fordow nuclear facility, which was their main target in this operation.

He did not answer how the US would respond to retaliation from Iran or armed organizations influenced by Iran.

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Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518762133148959284/

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